Terry loop knitting machine and process



Aug. 23, 1955 s. G. KRAUSS ETAL 2,715,324

TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed Dec. 17, 1952 5 SheetsSheet l INVENT R J/azzfe 6. raaais' 0562 Jztruwss Aug. 23, 1955 s. G. KRAUSS ETAL TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1952 INVENTOR 55 By G. grazasf ?0 e726 a 27214519 iar! w ruays' TTORNEYS.

Aug. 23, 1955 s. G. KRAUSS ETAL 2,715,324

TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS Aug. 23, 1955 s. G. KRAUSS ETAL TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 1'7, 1952 BYZ'a? c/iidraass w tgibl ORNEYS.

Aug. 23, 1955 s. G. KRAUSS ETAL 2,715,824

TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed Dec. 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 POSg/fi I00 200 300 400 500 600 700 80 900 I000 N00 I200 I300 I400 I500 DOWN \ t I 1 NEEDLE i BACK FORM\NG NEEDLE DOWN TERRY LOOP OPEN LA a Tc CLOSED BACK soanmc,{

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NEW TERRY CAST OFF NEW BACK LOOP CAST OFF United States Patent lid TERRY LOOP KNITTING MACHINE AND PROCESS Stanley G. Krauss, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Earl J. Krauss and Robert J. Krauss, Allentown, Pa.

Application December 17, 1952, Serial No. 326,424

14 Claims. (Cl. 66-93) The present invention relates to a mechanism for knitting terry cloth and processes of knitting the same.

A purpose of the invention is to obtain a more attractive appearance in a knitted jersey material which is suitable for baby clothing, men and womens shirts, light weight sweaters, beach coats, bathrobes, bed spreads and other fabrics.

A further purpose is to obtain elasticity or stretch in a lciitted terry cloth. 7

A further purpose is to reduce the tendency to distort or lose shape in a knitted terry cloth.

A further purpose is to increase the production of a knitted terry cloth from a given quantity of yarn.

A further purpose is to knit a terry cloth using latch needles.

A further purpose is to improve the appearance of the back of knitted terry cloth, and particularly to get a smooth back.

A further purpose is to raise terry loops in staggered relation in alternate courses of knitted terry cloth.

A further purpose is to knit terry loop yarn in the same course as backing yarn, to carry the terry loop yarn with every second backing loop and interlock the terry backing loop with the adjoining backing course, and to raise the terry loop over the distance between the alternate backing loops.

A further purpose is to connect the ends of a terry loop in the backing by a chain consisting of a single loop, a double loop and a single loop engaged with one another. 7

A further purpose is to form a terry loop over the noses of a pair of adjoining sinkers.

A further purpose is to employ a pattern wheel adjacent the point of feeding in of the yarn of the terry course and to omit the pattern wheel at the position of feeding in the yarn of the back course.

A further purpose is to raise the needles higher at the point of feed of the back course than at the point of feed of the terry course so that the back forming yarn will go in over the nose of the sinker and continue relatively undisturbed.

A further purpose is to keep all back forming needles at a welt position slightly above the top of the nose of the sinker, from the position at which the back forming needles return to the welt position at the end of the cycle until the position in the new cycle at which the back forming needles lower to drop the stitches, so that the back yarn will be carried straight and will not form irregularities which would show in the back.

A further purpose is to feed the back forming yarn above the nose of the sinker and bring the back forming yarn to a position intermediate between the nose of the sinker and the knitting level while the sinker is withdrawn to its rear position and before the terry loop forming yarn is raised over the noses of two adjoining sinkers.

A further purpose is to form the stitch with a sinker only partially forward and after dropping the stitch 2,715,324 i atented Aug. 23, 1955 move the sinker further forward, thus forming a smoother back and a more uniform loop.

A further purpose is to bring the terry loop forming needles down with the latches open prior to lowering the back forming needles so as to avoid cutting or ruifling the back forming yarn.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings we have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which our invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure l is a diagrammatic section in a vertical and radial plane showing the component parts operative on the needles and sinkers, which are desirably employed in the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram of one cycle of the knitting machine of the present invention, showing the sinker cam in fragmentary top plan view and the needles in fragmentary elevation looking radially outwardly. In order to make possible the illustration on a scale which can be seen, many needles have been omitted and only the needles in important positions have been shown in this view. Also to avoid obscurity the pattern wheel which engages the needles has been omitted, it being under-v stood that the pattern wheel takes the position usual in the art.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing the sinkers, needles and yarns in the positions they assume between stations 500 and 800 in the knitting operations of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective showing the needle cams, certain of the needles, a few of the sinkers and one of the yarn feeds in the positions between station 10s and somewhat beyond station 1500. In this view approximately every third needle is shown.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of a sinker cam showing sinkers at some positions operating thereon.

Figure 6 is a chart of operation.

In the prior art terry cloth has usually been woven, although some terry cloth has been made on spring needles. Terry cloth can be greatly reduced in cost by knitting, and can be obtained in improved form by knit ting with latch needles in accordance with the present invention.

One of the definite advantages of the invention is that great uniformity in loop formation is obtained, so that the fabric has more stretch than has previously been possible and also has more uniform stretch so that there is less tendency to distort or to bulge, especially after wash- Whereas in previous practice the terry course has been knitted as a double loop with the backing course, by the present invention we knit the terry course with the loop of back forming yarn only at every second back loop, thus greatly economizing on yarn consumption. The terry loop in accordance with the invention is raised over the distance between every second back loop of the course, and in the back the intermediate length of the course below the terry loop is occupied by two single loops and one double loop which are interlocked as a chain, thus further economizing in yarn.

Furthermore, by the present invention great care is taken to be sure that the back forming yarn is put in evenly, thus greatly improving the appearance of the back by obtaining smoothness in the back and thus further economizing on yarn by avoiding deviation in the course of the back forming yarn when viewed from the back of the fabric. To accomplish this purpose the needle at the back yarn feed is raised unusually high compared to the needle at the terry loop forming yarn feed, thus 'the terry loop forming yarn is brought in over the nose of the sinker, thus further contributingto keep the back forming yarn smooth. 7

Terry loops are formed over the nose of two adjoining sinkers and, to improve the appearance of the face of the fabric, the terry loops are staggered in adjoining courses.

The terry loop forming needles, after the terry loop forming yarn is fed, are brought down with the latches open so that the latches will not distort or cut the back forming yarn.

The stitch is formed while the sinker is only partially forward and while the loop whichforms the stitch is in front of the nose of the sinker but not in the throat of the sinker, thus avoiding unduly lengthening the loop and in some cases unduly tensioning or even cutting the loop. After the stitch has been formed, the sinker moves forward to its limitingposition and pushes the course forward away from' the needle, thus clearing needles for further action so that the needles can readily rise.

By the procedure of the present invention it has been found possible to reduce the consumption of yarn by about one third in the production of the fabric of the invention.

" Considering now first the structure as generally illustratedin Figure 1, the invention is preferably applied to a knittingmachine of the character produced by the Supreme Knitting Machine Company, which is extensivehowever, that the invention is applicable to any sinker top latch needle knitting machine, including particularly the Brinton.

An-outer ring 20, which is suitably stationary, carries a stationary cam retaining ring 21 and journals a rotating cylinder gear ring 22 driven by a ring gear 23 mounted thereon. The ring mounts a cylinder 24 having slots throughout its circumference which retain needles 25 having hooks 26, latches 27 pivoted to the needles at 28, and needle butts 30. V 7

' Each needle is held in the back of its slot by garter springs 31 which surround the needles of the entire machine and leave the needles free to move up and down in the slots as later explained.

Immediately on each side of each needle is placed a' sinker 32,'each sinker having a rearwardly directed extension 33 having an upper cam follower'34 at the rear end, the extension and cam follower cooperating with ashoulder 35 at the rear of the front portion of the sinker to follow sinker cam 36 which is supported in stationary position on sinker cam ring 37. A sinker rest ring 38 is secured to the cylinder and rests on flange 40 secured to the sinker cam ring and holds the'bottoms of the sinker extension portions 33. a I

The sinkers are of conventional type, and have forward ends 41 which terminate at the top in knitting surfaces 42, extending generally horizontal. Protruding forward part of thedistance above the knittingsurface is a sinker nose 43 which overhangs a throat 44. As later explained, yarn in the present invention is in some cases brought in on the top 45 of the nose.

The sinker cam, best seen in Figures 2 and 5, comprises blank cam portions 46 which hold .the sinkers in full extension'inward at back forming yarn feed positions,

and active cam portions 47 located at terry loop forming yarn feed positions. Beginning with the earliest point of progression active cam portion 47 comprises portion 48 which holds the sinkersin, deflecting portion 50 which withdraws the sinkers outwardly, and interior cut-out portion 51 which holds the sinkers partially back when the terry loop'forming yarn is brought in over the top of the nose of the sinker. The cam porti0n'47 terminates in portion 52 which holds the sinkers inward and meets with the next blank sinker cam 46. The sinker cam ring 37 is machined away so as not .to interfere with the travel of the sinkers along the sinker cams.

The needle position is controlled, insofar as upward movement of the needle is concerned, by raising earns allel to but in spaced relation to the return sloping -por-- tion 61 of the rising cams. The wing camsare. in position to engage the opposite side of the butt from the raising cam as well known in the art. 7 V V At the back forming yarn feeding portions, raising cams as shown at 65 are employed, having initial raising portions 66, flat top portions'67, pattern wheel notches 68' (which are not used in the present invention), flat top portions 70 and return portions 71. Protruding from the portions 70 of the raising cam is the tucker cam 72 having a sharply upwardly extending approach portion 73, a

peak 74, gradually descending portion 75 and steeply de- 7 scending portion 76 terminating approximately at the nose between the portion 70 and 71.

The downward position of the needle butts, except where it is controlled by the wing cam, is controlled by stitch earns 77 which are mounted on the section blocks'54 and are held in desired positions as well known in the art by stitchcam setting screws 78 (Figure 1). At the terry loop forming yarn feed positions the stitch cams take the form 80 (Figure 2), having gradually downwardly sloping approachportions 81, bottom peaks 82, and upwardly sloping portions 83. The peaks 82 are substantially above the ends of the cams 55. v

At positions at which back yarn is fed, the stitch cams are formed as at 84, having gradually downwardly slop ing approach portions 85., curved noses 86 and steep drop-0E portions 87. The drop-off portions are approximately above the ends of'portions 56.,

At each of the feed positions, which will desirably be 32 in number on a conventional machine, a yarn carrier bracket 88 (Figure 1) is 'mounted on carrier ring 90 which is positioned on the sinker cam ring, anda terry loop forming yarn feed 91 or a back forming yarn feed 91 extends down from the yarn carrier bracket to a position just outside the needle hook. The terry loop forming yarn feed 91 and the back forming yarn feed 91' may suitably be identical except that as later explained the back forming yarn feed will preferably belocated at a slightly higher position than the terry loop forming yarn in Figure 2, it being intended to indicate that the alternate needles are of two sets, which in certain positions function differently, although in other positions the needlesX and Y function identically. Itshould be emphasized at the start, however, that the needles which function as needles X in one series of steps as shown in Figure 2 will in the preferred embodiment of the invention function as needles Y in the next series of steps, due simply to the placement of the jacks in the alternate slots of the pattern wheel, rather than in the slots previously used. This feature in itself, apart from the distinctive aspects of the invention, is well illustrated in the Abrams and Mishcon text particularly at pages to 26, and applicant is omitting the detailed description except to show diagrammatically the range of pattern wheel action at 92 in Figure 2.

It will be understood that everything happening at any one station happens at the same time at all other similar stations (sixteen in the preferred form).

Considering station 104) indicated in Figure 2, the sinker 32 indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2 by the illustration of the knitting level 93, and the tops of the sinker noses 94, is fully forward, with the terry loop raised from the fronts of the tops of the noses of every second sinker in a manner later to be described, the terry loop forming yarn producing the terry loop having been fed at the thirty-first feed, which is the second previous feed.

The immediate preceding feed was the thirty-second, feeding back yarn, and the needles X and Y arrive at station 160 which is approaching feed No. l, a terry loop forming feed, with the hooks of the needles in welt position, the hooks being very slightly (preferably about above the tops of the nose 94 of the sinker. The back yarn end 95 picked up at the thirty-second feed lies in the hooks of needles X and Y and across the top of the nose of the sinker. Around the needles X at the knitting level 93 of the sinker is stitch 96 which Was cast ofi at the thirty-second feed, and around the needles Y is stitch 96 from the back yarn course and stitch 97 which carries the terry loop forming yarn with the back yarn course at that point. This previous back yarn course is designated 98 and the previous terry loop formed course is designated 100.

At station 100, the butts of the needles X are picked up by the jacks in pattern wheel 92, but the pattern wheel has no effect on the butts of needles Y at feed No. 1 because there are no jacks in the slots of the pattern wheel which engage needles Y at this feed position (at feed No. 3 the condition is reversed, and the jacks and the pattern wheel slots control needles Y but not needles X). Likewise at station 160 the butts of needles Y which had previously been carried up slightly on the approach portion 56 of the raising cam are now carried across the the sinker again moves out. Thus the terry loop raised on the top of the noses of every pair of sinkers as fed at the thirty-first feed drops olf.

Needles X have now been raised high enough above knitting level by the pattern wheel at 92 so that their latches have opened due to the tendency of the back forming yarn 95 fed at the thirty-second station to pull down, this back forming yarn being held in the hooks of needles Y whose latches are still closed. Needles Y continue to travel across the top of the raising cam at cam portion 60. Back stitches 96 cast oif at the thirtysecond feed are still around the needles X and Y at the knitting level and terry loop forming yarn stitches 97 (Figure 3) are still around the needles Y at the knitting level. Figure 6 shows that the sinker at station 204) has moved part way back or out, the terry loop forming yarn has moved to the highest position it achieves at the terry loop feed 91, the back forming needle is still at Welt position, the terry loop forming needle has an open latch while the back forming needle still has the latch closed, and the stitch of the previous terry loop forming course and the previous back forming course is still on the needle.

By station 300 the sinker cam portion has moved the sinkers all the way back, and the pattern wheel has raised the needles X so that their hooks still in the uppermost position achieved at feed 91 are about to pick up the new terry loop forming yarn. The back forming yarn 95 picked up at the thirty-second feed is still across the open latches of needles X, and still is through the hooks in closed latches of needles Y. The stitch 96 of back forming yarn cast oil at feed 32 is still around the needles X and Y and the stitch 97 of terry loop forming yarn is around the needles Y at the knitting level of the sinkers.

By station 400, the sinkers are beginning to move inward along the sinker cam. Needles X have passed beyond the range of engagement with pattern wheel 92, and have encountered approach surface 81 of the stitch cam 8t), and are moving down along that surface, having picked up new terry loop forming yarn end 101 in the hooks, The back forming yarn 95 still extends across the open latches of needles X and through the hooks and closed eyes of needle Y.

The butts of needles Y on the other hand have encountered wing cam projections 63 and 64 which extend inwardly and begin to lower needles Y. Stitches 96 of the previous course of ground forming yarn are around needles X and Y and stitches 97 of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn are around needles Y.

At station 5% the sinker is still moving inward under the action of cam portion 56. Needles X have encountered approach portion 81 of stitch cam S0 and are moved down along it. The new terry loop forming yarn end 101 is carried in the hooks of needles X and as needles X move down, stitches 96 of the previous ground forming course move relatively up on the needles and close the latches. The old ground forming yarn 95 picked up at the thirty second feed extends through the closed latches of needles X and through the latched hooks of needles Y. Needles Y are lowered by wing cam surfaces 63 and 64, their hooks being half Way between the tops of the noses of the sinkers and the knitting level of the sinkers. Stitches 96 of the previous ground course are still around needles X and Y and stitches 97 of the previous terry loop forming course are still around needles Y.

At station 600 the sinker has moved out under the control of the inner surface of the sinker cam to encounter cut-out recess 51 so that terry loop forming yarn end 101 picked up at feed No. l by needles X rests on the tops of the noses of two sinkers forming a new terry loop 102. This is best shown in Figure 3, where the terry loop forming yarn 101 rests at 103 and 104 on the tops of the noses of an adjoining pair of sinkers and has no hook engagement between these sinkers.

Back forming yarn 95 still extends through the closed latches of needles X and through the hooks of needles Y, and at station 696 is positioned half way between the top of the nose of the sinker and the knitting level of the sinker, to which position it was lowered as needles Y engaged the wing cam at station 500. Stitch 96 cast off at the thirty-second feed is now around the closed latches at 105 on needles X and Y and the terry loop forming stitch 97 is around the closed latches on needles Y.

At station the sinker still is controlled by the ground out portion 51 of the sinker cam, and the sinkers hold terry loop 102' over the tops of the noses of an adjoining pair of sinkers without any intermediate needle engagement.

The butts of needles X and Y have both been lowered to the bottom point 82 of stitch cam to a position at which the old stitches 96 and 97 which were cast off at the thirty-second feed have slipped up at 105 for the double stitch and 106 for the single stitch around the old yarn end which was picked up at the thirtysecond feed, and the new terry loop forming yarn end 101 picked up at feed No. 1, which has been placed over the tops of the noses of. every two sinkers and in the hooks of needles X, and the stitch has slipped up over the yarn picked up at the thirty-second feed which is in the books of' needles Y; A new stitch has been formed by the yarn now in the hooks of needles 'X and Y, which stitch 'will be cast off at feed No. 2 as the old stitch was cast ofi at the thirty-second feed.

At station 800 the sinkers have moved inward under the control of cam portion 52, holding thenew terry loop 102 over the tops of the noses of an adjoining pair of sinkers as indicated at 107 and 108 (Figure 3). Needles X and Y remain in the stitch drop position with the new stitch held in their hooks and the old stitch around the new stitch at the knitting level of the sinkers.

At station 900, the sinkers extend all the way inward with the new terry loop over the front of the tops of the noses of every two sinkers. Raising cam surface 66 at feed No. 2 raises all needles to a point at which the new stitch has slipped down the needles and opened their latches, The new stitch is maintained at the knitting level of the sinkers and around the latches of needles X and Y. a

At station 1000 the sinkers are all the way inward V with the new terry loop formed over the tops of the noses of very two sinkers, and the sinkers remain in this position throughout the rest of the cycle. The butts of needles X and Y are about to encounter the tucker cam to pick up a back forming yarn for the next course 1 at feed 91', allowing the new stitch of yarn to slip down from the latches of the needles of both sets and thus cast off, the new stitch remains around the latches at the knitting level of the sinkers at station 1000;

At' station 1100 needles X and Y are raised high enough by the tucker cam 72 so that their hooks can later pick up a new yarn end and cast oil? the new stitch at the knitting level of the sinkers.

At station 1200 the needles X and Y have just picked upia new back forming yarn end and are about to be lowered by engagement of their butts by surface 85 of the stitch cam.

a At station 1300 the butts of needles X and Y are still moving down on surface 85 of stitch cam 84 and the new stitch cast off previously is around needles X and Y at the knitting level of the sinkers. a

At station 1400 the curved stitch cam portion 86 has brought the needies down to a position in which their hooks are approximately A inch above the tops of the noses of the sinkers; The new stitch previously cast oif is around needles X and Y at the knitting level of the sinkers;

The new yarn end pick up at feed No. 2 is through the 7 books and lying across the tops of the sinkers. The relabothtsets closes the latches in station 1400.

In station 1500 the sinkers still remain fully inward with the new'terry loop over the forward top portions of the noses of a pair of sinkers. This loop will drop off when the sinkers move back or outward at feed No. 3.

At station 1500 of feed No. 3, needles X and Y have a yarn end in their hooks which was picked up from the yarn carrier of feed No. 2. The stitch cast off at feed No. 2 is around the needles at the knitting level of the sinkers.

After station 1500 a new cycle begins. The procedure is exactly the'same as it was except that in the next cycle needles Y are raised by the pattern wheel to pick up yarn and make the terry loop and needles X ride over the top of the raising cam and pull the yarn to a position half way between the tops of the noses of the sinkers and the knitting level of the sinkers.

At all uneven numbered feeds, where pattern Wheels are used, needles X and Y will alternate in being raised by the pattern wheel to pick up terry loop forming yarn yarn in the hook of a back forming needle in position opfrom the yarn carrier, thus giving the staggered relationship, since terry loop 102 does not have its center in the same wale as terry loops and 111 of the preceding course. i

Thus it will be evident that in accordance with the invention unusual economy existsbecause double loops are avoided beneath the terry loops, and the stitches are formed with the needle half way between'the top of the nose ofthe sinker and the knitting level, while unsuual precautions are maintained to keep the yarn straight and smooth as it is laid'in. The back yarn is fed 'in above the top of the noses of the sinkers, and is'brought below the' top of the nose of the sinker but the terry loop forming yarn is fed in above the top of the noses of-the' sinkers and stays above the top for a span of two sinkers.

' The terry loop forming yarn always forms its loops over the tops of two adjoining'sinkers, without needle engagement between. i

It will further be evident that special precautions are taken to avoid damage to the yarn by bringing the needles down from the terry loop forming yarn feeding position across the .back yarn with the latches open, before the back forming needles are lowered.

A very novel fabric appearance is produced not only in the staggered terry loops on the face of the fabric, but also in the uniformity of the stitch, the smoothness of the back and the freedom from the tendency to distort, pull or stretch in washing or wearing.

It will be'evident of course that the action described in the cycle above referred to will take place simultaneousiy sixteen times in as many different positions around the machine.

In view of our invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or partof the benefits of our invention without copying the process, fabric and apparatus shown, and we, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of our claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V 1. The process of knitting a terry fabric, usinglsinkers having noses and knitting levels andusing two sets of alternately positioned latch needles, which comprises at a first position maintaining the sinker all the way in with terry loops at spaced positions over the noses of pairs of adjoining sinkers, maintaining needles above the noses of the sinkers with loops of a preceding back forming course cast off but still around the needles of both sets and loops of a previous terry 'loop forming course cast ofi but still around needles of the back forming set, carrying through the hooks of all of the needles and over the tops of the sinkers back yarn which has been just previously fed, at a second position withdrawing the sinker, and thus releasing a terry loop formed over a pair of sinkers, raising a terry loop forming needle and allowing its latch to open under the action of back forming yarn passing through its hook, and retaining back forming posite the top of the nose of the sinker, while still retaining the stitch of the previous back forming course around the terry loop forming needles and the back'forming needles and the stitch of the previous terry loop forming course around the back forming needles at a third position moving the sinker all the way out, maintaining,

the terry loop forming needle raised to a position high enough to feed and feeding a new terry loop forming yarn course, while retaining the previous back forming:

course across the latch of the terry loop forming needle and through the latched hook of the back forming needle,

also extending through the hook of the back forming needle, and retaining the loops of the previous back forming course around the needles of both sets below the latches, at the fifth step moving the sinker still further in, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the terry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back forming yarn just fed in its book, the latch of the terry loop forming needle being closed due to sliding down of the needle against the loop of the previous course, and with the back forming yarn just fed in the hook of the back forming needle, lowering the back forming needle to a position between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, retaining back forming loops of the previous course around the needles of both sets and loops of the previous terry course around the back forming needles, in the sixth step advancing the sinker further in to a position in which the nose of the sinker engages under and holds the terry loop forming yarn of the new course in position to cause that yarn to span the noses of two sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle carrying with it the terry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back yarn of the just fed course in the hook with the latch closed, lowering the back forming needle with the back yarn through the hook and the latch closed to a level intermediate between the nose of the sinker and the knitting level, retaining loops of back forming yarn of the previous course around the closed latches of the needles of both sets, in the seventh position retaining the sinkers partially advanced inward with the new terry loop forming over the noses of a pair of sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and thereby dropping off the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn and thus forming the back stitch, lowering the back forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and thereby dropping off from the back forming needle a loop of the previous course of back yarn and also a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and thereby forming a stitch containing two courses retaining in the hooks and closed latches of the terry loop forming needles the new terry loop forming course and the back course just fed and retaining in the back forming needles the back course just fed, in the eighth step moving the sinker fully inward with the new terry loop formed over the noses of a pair of sinkers and by the forward motion of the sinkers robbing yarn from the adjoining courses, holding the terry loop forming needles and the back needles in the lowered position with the back forming course in the latched hooks of both sets of needles and the new terry loop forming course in the latched hooks of the terry loop forming needles, in the ninth step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new terry loop over the noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets and opening the latches by the action of the back forming course through the hooks of the needles and the action of the terry loop forming course in the terry loop forming needles, in the tenth step retaining the sinkers forward with the terry loop over noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets to a knit position and feeding the next course of back yarn into the hooks of the needles of both sets and casting off the loops of the previous course of back forming yarn from the needles of both sets and the loops of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn from the terry loop forming needles, in the eleventh step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new terry loop over the noses of a pair of sinkers, moving the needles of both sets down and closing the latches by the action of the loops of the previous back forming course around the needles of both sets and the loops of the previous terry loop forming course around the terry loop forming needles, raising the loops of the previous course of back yarn around the latches of the needles of both sets, and raising the loops of the previous courses of terry loop forrr'v ing yarn around the back forming needles.

2. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses and knitting levels and using two sets of alternately positioned latch needles, which comprises at a first position maintaining the sinker all the way in with terry loops at spaced positions over the noses of pairs of adjoining sinkers, maintaining needles above the noses of the sinkers with loops of a preceding back forming course cast off but still around the needles of both sets and loops of a previous terry loop forming course cast off but still around needles of the back forming set, carrying through the hooks of all of the needles and over the tops of the sinkers back yarn which has been just previously fed, at a second position withdrawing the sinker, and thus releasing a terry loop formed over a pair of sinkers, raising a terry loop forming needle and allowing its latch to open under the action of back forming yarn passing through its hook, and retaining back forming yarn in the hook of a back forming needle in position opposite the top of the nose of the sinker, while still retaining the stitch of the previous back forming course around the terry loop forming needles and the back forming needles and the stitch of the previous terry loop forming course around the back forming needles at a third position moving the sinker all the way out, maintaining the terry loop forming needle raised to a position high enough to feed and feeding a new terry loop forming yarn course, while retaining the previous back forming course across the latch of the terry loop forming needle and through the latched hook of the back forming needle, and retaining loops previously cast oil around the needles of both sets below the latches, in a fourth step moving the sinker in, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the new terry loop yarn course just fed in the hook and the old back forming course across the latch and also extending through the hook of the back forming needle, and retaining the loops of the previous back forming course around the needles of both sets below the latches, at the fifth step moving the sinker still further in, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the terry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back forming yarn just fed in its hook, the latch of the terry loop forming needle being closed due to sliding down of the needle against the loop of the previous course, and with the back forming yarn just fed in the hook of the back forming needle, lowering the back forming needle to a position between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, retaining back forming loops of the previous course around the needles of both sets and loops of the previous terry course around the back forming needles, in the sixth step advancing the sinker further in to a position in which the nose of the sinker engages under and holds the terry loop forming yarn of the new course in position to cause that yarn to span the noses of two sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle carrying with it the terry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back yarn of the just fed course in the hook with the latch closed, lowering the back forming needle with the back yarn through the hook and the latch closed to a level intermediate between the nose of the sinker and the knitting level, retaining loops of back forming yarn of the previous course around the closed latches of the needles of both sets, in the seventh position retaining the sinkers partially advanced inward with the new terry loop forming over the noses of a pair of sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and thereby dropping off the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn and thus forming the back stitch, lowering the back forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and thereby dropping off from the back forming needle a loop of the previous course of back yarn and also a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and thereby forming a stitch containing two 11 courses retaining in the hooks and closed latches of the terry loop forming needles the new terry loop forrmng course and the back course just fed and retaining in the back forming needles the back course just fed, in the eighth step movingthe sinker fully inward with the new terry loop formed over the noses of a pair of sinkers and by the forward motion of the sinkers robbing yarn from the adjoining courses, holding the terry loop forming needles and the back needles in the lowered position with the back forming course in the latched hooks of both sets of needles and the new terry loop forming course in the latched hooks of the terry loop forming needles, in the ninth step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new terry loop over the noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets and opening the latches by the action of the back forming course through the hooks of the needles and the action of the terry loop forming course in the terry loop forming needles, in the tenth step retaining the sinkers forward with the terry loop over noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets to a knit position and feeding the next course of back yarn into the hooks'of the needles of both sets and casting off the loops of the previous course of back forming yarn from the needles of both sets and the loops of the previous courseof terry loop forming yarn from the terry' loop forming needles, in the eleventh step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new terry loop over the noses of a pair of sinkers, moving the needles of both sets down and closing the latches by the action of the loops of 'the' previous back forming course around the needles of both'sets and the loops of the previous terry loop forming course around the terry loop forming needles, retaining the needles of both sets slightly above the noses of the sinkers soras 'to avoid rufiling'the yarn, raising the loops 7 of the previous course of back yarn around the latches of the needles of both sets, and raising the loops of the previous courses of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needles.

3. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses and knitting levels and using two'sets of alternately positioned latch needles, which comprises at a first position maintaining the sinker all the way in with terry loops at spaced positions over the noses of pairs of adjoining sinkers, maintaining needles above the noses of the sinkers with loops of a'preceding back forming course cast off but still around the needles of both sets and loops of a previous terry loop forming course cast off but still around needles of the back forming set, earrying through the hooks of all of the needles and over the .tops of the sinkers back yarn which has been just previously fed, at a second position withdrawing the sinker, and thus releasing a terry loop formed over a pairof sinkers, raising a terry loop forming needle and allowing its latch to open under the action of back form- 7 ing yarn passing through its hook, and retaining back forming yarn in the hook of a back forming needle in position opposite the top of the nose of the sinker, while still retaining the stitch of the previous back forming 'course around the terry loop forming needles and the back forming needles and the stitch of the previous terry loop forming course around the back forming needles at a third position moving the sinker all the way out, maintaining the terry loop forming needle raised to a position high enough to feed and feeding a new terry loop forming yarn course, while retaining the previous back forming course across the latch of the terry loop forming needle and through the latched hook of the back forming needle, and retaining loops previously cast oft around the needles of both sets below the latches, in a fourth step moving the sinker in, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the new terry loop yarn course just fed in the hook and the old back forming course across the latch and also extending through the hook of the back forming needle, and retaining the loops of the previous back forming course around the needles of both sets below the latches, at the fifth step, moving the sinker still further in, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the terry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back forming yarn just fed in its hook, the latch of the terry loop forming needle being closed due to sliding down of the needle against the loop of the previous course, and with the back forming yarn just fed inthe hook of the back forming needle, lowering the back forming needle to a position between the 'top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, retaining back forming'loops of the previous course around the needles of both sets and loops of the previous terry course around the back forming needles, in the sixth step advancing the sinker further in to a position in which the nose of the sinker engages under and holds the terry loop forming yarn of the new course in position to causethat yarn to span the noses of two sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle carrying with it theterry loop forming yarn of the new course and the back yarn of the just fedcourse in the hook with the latch closed, lowering the back forming needle with the back yarn through the hook and the latch closed to a level intermediate between the nose of the sinker and the knitting level,

, retaining loops of back forming yarn of the. previous course around the closed latches of the needles of both sets, in the seventh position retaining the sinkers partially advanced inward with the new terry loop forming over the noses of a pair of sinkers, lowering the terry loop forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and thereby dropping ofi the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn and thus forming the back stitch, lowering the back forming needle to a stitch dropping position below the knitting level and there by dropping oil from the back forming needle a loop of the previous course ofback yarn and also a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and thereby forming a stitch containing two courses retaining in the hooks and closed latches of the terry loop forming needles the new terry loop forming course and the back course just fed and retainingin the back forming needles the back course just fed, in the eighth step moving the sinker fully inward with the new terry loop formed over the noses of a pair of sinkers and'by the forward motion of the sinkers robbing-yarn from the adjoining courses, holding the terry loop forming needles and the back needles in the lowered position with the back forming course'in the latched hooks of both sets of needles and the new terry loop formingcourse in the latched hooks of the terry loop forming needles, in the ninth step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new. terry loop over the noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets and opening thelatches by the action of the back forming course through the hooks of the needles and the action of the terry loop forming course in the terry loop' forming needles, in' the tenth step retaining the sinkers forward with the terry loop over noses of a pair of sinkers, raising the needles of both sets to a knit position and feeding the next course of back yarn into the hooks of the needles of both sets and casting oil the loops of the previous course of back forming yarn from the needles of both sets and the loops of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn from the terry loop forming needles, in the eleventh step retaining the sinkers fully forward with the new terry loop overthe noses of a pair of sink ers, moving the needles of both sets down and closing the latches by the action of the loops of the previous back forming course around the needles of both sets and the loops of the previous terry loop forming course around the terry loop forming needles, raising the loops of the previous course of back yarn around the latches of the needles of both sets, raising the loops of the previous courses of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needles and repeating the above cycleof steps with the needles of the set which previously were back forming needles operating as terry loop forming needles 13 and the needles of the previous set which were terry loop forming needles operating as back forming needles.

4. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses above the knitting level and using latch needles arranged alternately and belonging to two sets, which comprises in a first step holding the sinkers forward, passing a terry loop forming yarn of the course being formed and a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a terry loop forming needle, passing a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a back forming-needle, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, surrounding the terry loop forming needle outside its latch with a loop of a previous course of back forming yarn, surrounding the back forming needle outside its latch with a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and of the previous course of back forming yarn, in a second step moving the sinker outward, raising the terry loop forming needle, and thereby opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle by the pull down of the course of back forming yarn being formed, retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a third step moving the sinker further outward, feeding the next course of terry loop forming yarn and retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a fourth step advancing the sinker somewhat inward, lowering the terry loop forming needle and there by closing its latch by the pulling up of the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn around the same and maintaining the back forming needle at a position 3;

between the level of the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, in a fifth step moving the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its outer and full inner positions, further lowering the terry loop formthe back forming needle closed, surrounding the terry loop forming needle outside its latch with a loop of a previous course of back forming yarn, surrounding the back forming needle outside its latch with a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and of the previous course of back forming yarn, in a second step moving the sinker outward, raising the terry loop forming needle, and thereby opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle by the pull down of the course of back forming yarn being formed, retaining all other conditions ing needle, further lowering the back forming needle,

laying the new course of terry loop forming yarn over the nose of the sinker which has just been advanced, in a sixth step lowering the terry loop forming needle to its lowermost position, lowering the back forming needle to its lowermost position, thereby dropping the previously cast oif loops of the previous course of back forming yarn about both needles, and of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn about the back forming needle, in a seventh step advancing the sinker fully inward, and retaining all other conditions unchanged, the sinkers remaining inward until after the first step of the next cycle, in an eighth step raising the terry loop forming needle to knit position, raising the back forming needle to knit position, and during the raising procedure opening the latches of both needles, in a ninth step further raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle and casting ofi from the terry loop forming needle 2. loop of the back forming course being formed and from the back forming needle a loop of the next terry loop forming source and of the back forming course being formed, in a tenth step 5 feeding the next course of back forming yarn to the open hooks of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle, and in the last step lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the positions of the first step and thereby closing the latches of both needles by relative upward movement around the needles of the loops of the back forming course being formed around both needles and the loop of the next course of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needle.

5. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinker having noses above the knitting level and using latch needles arranged alternately and belonging to two sets, which comprises in a first step holding the sinkers forward, passing a terry loop forming yarn of the course being formed and a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a terry loop forming needle, passing a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a back forming needle,

unchanged, in a third step moving the sinker further outward, feeding the next course of terry loop forming yarn and retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a fourth step advancing the sinker somewhat inward, lowering the ten-y loop forming needle and thereby closing its latch by the pulling up of the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn around the same and maintaining the back forming needle at a position between the level of the top or" the nose and the knitting level of the sinker,

; in a fifth step moving the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its outer and full inner positions, further lowering the terry loop forming needle, further lowering the back forming needle, laying the new course of terry loop forming yarn over the nose of the sinker which has just been advanced, in a sixth step lowering the terry loop forming needle to its lowermost position, lowering the back forming needle to its lowermost position, thereby dropping the previously cast off loops of the previous course of back forming yarn about both needles, and of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn about the back forming needle, in a seventh step advancing the sinker fully inward, and retaining all other conditions unchanged, the sinkers remaining inward until after the first step of the next cycle in an eighth step raising the terry loop forming needle to knit position, raising the back forming needle to knit position, and during the raising procedure opening the latches of both needles, in a ninth step further raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle and casting off from the terry loop forming needle a loop of the back forming course being formed and from the back forming needle a loop of the next terry loop forming course and of the back forming course being formed, in a tenth step feeding the next course of back forming yarn to the open hooks of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle, in the last step lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the positions of the first step and thereby closing the latches of both needles by relative upward movement around the needles of the loops of the back forming course being formed around both needles and the loop of the next course of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needle, and in thenext cycle repeating the sequence of steps with the previous set of terry loop forming needles operating as back forming needles and the previous set of back forming needles operating as terry loop forming needles.

6. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses above the knitting level and using latch needles arranged alternately and belonging to two sets, which comprises in a first step holding the sinkers forward, passing a terry loop forming yarn of the course being formed and a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a terry loop forming needle, passing a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a back forming needle, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, surrounding the terry loop forming needle outside its latch with a loop of a previous course of back forming yarn, surrounding the back forming needle outside its latch with a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and of the previous course of back forming yarn, in a second step moving the sinker'outward, raising the terry loop retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle and 75 forming needle, and thereby opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle by the pull down of the course of back forming'yarn being formed, retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a third step moving the sinker further outward, feeding the next course of terry loop forming yarn and retaining all other conditions un-' changed, in a fourthstep-advancing the sinker somewhat inward, lowering the terry loop forming needle and thereby closing its latch by the pulling up of the loop of' the previous course of back forming yarn around 7 the same, throughout the first to the fourth steps inclusive maintaining the back forming needle even at position between the level of the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, in a fifth step moving the sinker'further inward to a position intermediate between 'its outer and full inner positions, further lowering the 'terry loop' forming needle, further lowering the back forming needle, laying the new course of terry loop forming yarn over the nose of the sinker which has just been advanced, in a sixth step lowering the terry loop forming needle to its lowermost position, lowering the back forming needle to its lowermost position, thereby dropping the previously cast otf loops of the previous course of back forming yarn about both needles, and of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn about the back forming needle, in a seventh step advancing the sinker fully inward, and retaining all other conditions unchanged, the

sinkers remaining inward until after the first step of the next cycle, in an eighth step raising the terry loop forming needle to knit position, raising the back forming needle to knit position, and during the raising procedureopening the latches of both needles, in a ninth stepfurther raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle and casting off from the terry loop forming needle a loop of the back forming course being formed and from the back forming needle a loop of the next terry loop forming course and the back forming course being formed, in a tenth step feeding the next course of back forming yarn to the open hooks of the terry loop forming needle and 'theback forming needle, and'in the last step'lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to'the positions of the first step and thereby closing the latches of bothsneedles by relative upward movement around the ueedlesof the loops of the back forming'course being formed around both needles and the loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needle.

7 i 7. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses above the knitting level and using latch needles arranged alternately and belonging to two sets, which comprises in a first step holding the sinkers for ward, passing a terry loop forming yarn of the course being formed and a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a terry loop forming needle, passing a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a back forming needle, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, surrounding the terry loop forming needle outside its latch with a loop of a previous course ofback forming yarn, surrounding the back forming needle outside its latch with a loop of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn and of the previous course of back forming yarn, in a second step' vforming yarn and retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a fourth step advancing the sinker somewhat forward, lowering the terry loop forming needle with the latch open to avoid cutting or distorting the back forming yarn and then closing its latch by the pulling up'of'the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn around the same and maintaining the back forming casting off from the terry loop forming needle a loop t 15 r needle at a position between the level of the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, in a fifth step moving the sinker further inward to a positionintermediate between its outer and full inner positions, further lowering the terry loop forming needle,.further lowering the back forming needle, laying the new course of terry loop forming yarn over the nose of the sinker which has just been advanced, in a sixth steplowering the terry loop forming needle to its lowermost position, lowering the back forming needle to its lowermost position, thereby dropping the previously cast off-loops of the previous course of back forming yarn about both needles, and of the previous courseof terry loop formeighth step raising the terry loop forming needle to knit" position, raising the back forming needle to knit position,

and during the raising procedure opening the latches of both needles, in a ninth step further raising theterryj loop formin needle and the back forming needle'and of the back forming course being formed and from the back forming needle a loop of the next terry loop form ing course and the back forming course being formed, in a tenth step feeding the next course of back forming yarn to the open hooks of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle, and in the last step lower ing the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the positions of the first step and thereby 'closing the latches of both needles by relative upward movement around the needles of the loops of the back'forming course being formed around both needles and the loop of the next course of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needle. i

8. The process of knitting a terry fabric, using sinkers having noses above the knitting level and using latch needles arranged alternately and belonging to two sets, which comprises in a first step holding the. sinkers forward, passing a terry loop forming yarn of the course being formed and a back forming yarn of'the course being formed through the hook of a terry loop forming needle, passing a back forming yarn of the course being formed through the hook of a back forming needle, re-' taining the latch of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, surrounding the terry loop forming needle, outside its latch with a loop of a previous course of back forming yarn, surrounding the back I further outward, feeding the next course of terry loop forming yarn and retaining all other conditions unchanged, in a fourthstep advancing the sinker somewhat inward, lowering the terry loop forming needle and thereby closing its latch by the pulling up of the loop of the previous course of back forming yarn around the same and maintaining the back forming needle at a position between the level of the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, in a fifth step moving the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its outer and full inner positions, further lowering the terry loop forming needle, further lowering the back forming needle, laying the new course of terry loop dropping the previously cast off loops of the previous;

course of back forming yarn about both needles, and of the previous course of terry loop forming yarn about the back forming needle, in seventh step advancing the sinker fully inward, and retaining all other conditions unchanged, the sinkers remaining inward until after the first step of the next cycle, in an eighth step raising the terry loop forming needle to knit position, raising the back forming needle to knit position, and during the raising procedure opening the latches of both needles, in a ninth step further raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle and casting off from the terry loop forming needle a loop of the back forming course being formed and from the back forming needle a loop of the next terry loop forming course and the back forming course being formed, the needles of both sets being raised higher than in the third step where the terry loop forming yarn was fed, in the tenth step feeding the next course of back forming yarn to the open hooks of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle, so that the back forming yarn is fed over the noses of the sinkers with a minimum of rulfiing, and in the last step lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the positions of the first step and thereby closing the latches of both needles by relative upward movement around the needles of the loops of the back forming course being formed around both needles and the loop of the next course of terry loop forming yarn around the back forming needle.

9. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, 2. terry loop forming yarn feed positioned at one circumferential position adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the hooks of the needles in an elevated position, means for manipulating the needles and sinkers in connection with the feeds to knit a first course of back forming yarn, means for manipulating the sinkers and needles in connection with the feeds to knit a second course of back forming yarn interlocked with loops of the first course, means for manipulating the sinkers and needles in connection with the feeds to knit a first course of terry loop forming yarn interlocked with the first course of back forming yarn, the first course of terry loop forming yarn following every second loop of the second course of back forming yarn and rising in a terry loop in the distance between each second loop of the second course of back forming yarn, means for manipulating the sinkers and needles in connection with the feeds for knitting a third course of back forming yarn interlocked with loops of the second course of back forming yarn and at alternate loop positions with the first course of terry loop forming yarn, and means for manipulating the needles and sinkers in connection with the feeds for knitting a second course of terry loop forming yarn interlocked with the second course of back forming yarn, following every second loop of the third course of back forming yarn and rising in terry loops in the distance between every second loop of back forming yarn, the loops in the second course of terry loop forming yarn which follow the third course of back forming yarn being in different wales from the loops of the first course of terry loop forming yarn which follow the loops of the second course of back forming yarn.

10. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, a terry loop forming yarn feed positioned at one circumferential position adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the books of the needles in an elevated position, means operative in a first position for manipulating the sinkers inward for holding the terry loop forming needle in a welt position for holding the back forming yarn in a welt position with the latches at least partially closed, means operative in a second position for moving the sinker somewhat out, for raising the terry loop forming needle to an elevated position beneath its upper limit, retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, means for open ing the latch of the terry loop forming needle, retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at the third position for moving the sinker out, for retaining the terry loop forming needle in its previously achieved elevated position in cooperation with the terry loop forming yarn feed, for retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fourth position for moving the sinker somewhat inward, for lowering the terry loop forming needle, for lowering the back forming needle to a position intermediate between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, for closing the latch of the terry loop forming needle and retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fifth position for advancing the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its inwardmost and outwardmost positions, for further lowering the terry loop forming needle, for further lowering the back forming needle and retaining the latches of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, means operative at a sixth position for retaining the sinker at the intermediate position previously reached, for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their lowermost position, dropping oif loops of previous courses, and retaining the latches on both needles closed, means operative before a seventh position for advancing the sinker fully inward to the place it achieved in the first position and retaining it there through the remainder of the cycle, means operative at a seventh position for retaining the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle in their lowermost positions, means operative at an eighth position for raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their uppermost positions, casting ofi stitches of the new courses, and for opening the latches on both needles, the

' back yarn feed being located in a ninth position in cooperation with the needles, and means operative at a tenth position for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the first position and for closing the latches on both needles.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, a terry loop forming yarn feed positioned at one circumferential position adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the hooks of the needles in an elevated position, means operative in a first position for manipulating the sinkers inward, for holding the terry loop forming needle in a welt position, for holding the back forming yarn in a welt position above the noses of the sinkers to minimize the paying out of yarn, with the latches at least partially closed, means operative in a second position for moving the sinker somewhat out, for raising the terry loop forming needle to an elevated position beneath its upper limit, retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, means for opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle, retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at the third position for moving the sinker out, for retaining the terry loop forming needle in its previously achieved elevated position in cooperation with the terry loop forming yarn feed, for retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back 19 forming needle closed, means operative at a fourth position for moving the sinker somewhat inward, for lowering the terry loop forming needle, for lowering the back forming needle to a position intermediate between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, for clos- 'ing the latch of the terry loop forming needle and retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fifth position for advancing the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its inwardmost and outwardmost position, for further lowering the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back forming needle and retaining the latchesof the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, means operative at a sixth position for retaining the sinker at the intermediate position previously reached, for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their lowermost positions, dropping ofi loops of previous courses and retaining the latches on both needles closed, means operative before a seventh position for advancing the sinker fully inward to the position it achieved in the.

first position and retaining it there through the remainder of the cycle, means operative ata seventh position for retaining the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle in their lowermost positions, means operative at an eighth position for raising the terry loop forming needles and the back forming needle to their uppermost positions, casting otf stitches of the new courses, and for opening the latches on both needles, the back yarn feed being located at a ninth position in cooperation with the needles, and means operative at a tenth position for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the first position and for closing the latches on both needles.

12. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, a terry loop forming yarn feed positioned at one circumferentialposition adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the hooks of the needles in an elevated position, means operative in a first position for manipulating the sinkers inward, for holding the terry loop forming needle in a welt position, for holding the back forming yarn in a welt position with the latches at least partially closed, means operative in a second position for moving the sinker somewhat out, for raising the terry loop forming needle to an elevated position beneath its upper limit, retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, means for opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle, retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at the third position for moving the sinker out, for retaining the terry loop forming needle in its previously achieved elevated position in cooperation with, the terry loop forming yarn feed, for retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fourth position for moving the sinker somewhat inward, for lowering the terry loop forming needle, for lowering the back forming needle to a position intermediate between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, for closing the latch of the terry loop forming needle and retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means effective at a fifth position for advancing the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its inwardmost and outwardmost positions, for further lowering the terry loop forming needle, for further lowering the back forming needle and retaining the latches of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, means operative at a sixth position for retaining the sinker at the intermediate position previously reached, for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their lowermost 20 position, dropping off loops of previous courses; and re-- taining the latches on both needles closed,ymeans opera: tive before a seventh position for advancingfthe; sinker.

fully inward to the position it achieved in the first posi tion and retaining it there through the remainder of-the, cycle, means operative at a seventh position for 'retain' ing the terry loop forming needle and the back'forming needle in their lowermost positions, means operative at. an eighth position for raising the terry loop formingneedle and the back forming needle to their uppermost positions, higher than the heights reached by the needles in the third position, casting oif stitches of the new courses, and for opening the latches on both needles, the back yarn feed being located in a ninth position, feeding to the needles over the tops of the sinkers so as to keep the yarn smooth and save yarn, and means operative at a tenth position for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the first position and for closing the latches on both needles.

13. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, a terry loop forming yarn feed positionedat one circumferential position adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the hooks of the needles in an elevated position, means operative in a first position for manipulating thesinkers inward, for holding the terry loop forming needle in a welt position, for holding the back forming yarn in a welt position with the latches at least partially closed, means op-l erative in a second position for moving the sinker somewhat out, for raising the terry loop forming needle to an elevated position beneath its upper limit, retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, means for opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle, retaining the latch of the back'forming needle closed, means operative at the third position for moving the sinker out, for retaining the terry loop forming needle in its previously achieved elevated position in cooperation with the terry loop forming yarn feed, for retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fourth position for moving the sinker somewhat forward, for lowering the terry loop forming needle for lowering the back forming needle to a position intermediate between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker with the latch open to protect against distorting or cutting the back yarn, for closing the latch of the terry loop forming needle and retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fifth position for advancing the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its inwardmost and outwardmost positions, for further lowering the terry loop forming needle, for further lowering the back forming needle and retaining the latches of the terry loop'forming needle and the back forming needle closed, means operative at a sixth position for retaining the sinker at the intermediate position previously reached, for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their lowermost position dropping off loops of previous courses and retaining the latches on both needles closed, means operative before a seventh position for advancing the sinker fully inward to the position it achieved in the first position and retaining it there through the remainder of the cycle, means operative at a seventh position for retaining the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle in their lowermost positions, means 0perative at an eighth position for raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their uppermost positions, casting off stitches of the new courses, and for opening the latches on both needles, the back yarn feed being located at a ninth position in co- 21 operation with the needles, and means operative at a tenth position for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the first position and for closing the latches on both needles.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having slots, latch needles extending radially outwardly in the slots, sinkers having noses and having knitting levels below the noses extending transversely into the slots, 21 terry loop forming yarn feed positioned at one circumferential position adjacent hooks of the needles in an elevated position, a back forming yarn feed positioned at a more forward circumferential position adjacent the hooks of the needles in an elevated position, means operative in a first position for manipulating the sinkers inward, for holding the terry loop forming needle in a welt position, for holding the back forming yarn in a welt position with the latches at least partially closed, means operative in a second position for moving the sinker somewhat out, for raising the terry 100p forming needle to an elevated position beneath its upper limit, retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, means for opening the latch of the terry loop forming needle, retaining the latch Of the back forming needle closed, means operative at the third position for moving the sinker out, for retaining the terry loop forming needle in its previously achieved elevated position in cooperation with the terry loop forming yarn feed, for retaining the back forming needle in the welt position, retaining the latch of the terry loop forming needle open and the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fourth position for moving the sinker somewhat inward, for lowering the terry loop forming needle, for lowering the back forming needle to a position intermediate between the top of the nose and the knitting level of the sinker, for closing the latch of the terry loop forming needle and retaining the latch of the back forming needle closed, means operative at a fifth position for advancing the sinker further inward to a position intermediate between its inwardmost and outwardmost positions, for further lowering the terry loop forming needle, for further lowering the back forming needle and retaining the latches of the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle closed, means operative at a sixth position for retaining the sinker at the intermediate position previously reached, for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their lowermost position, dropping 01f loops of previous courses, and retaining the latches on both needles closed, means operative before a seventh position for advancing the sinker fully inward to the place it achieved in the first position and retaining it there through the remainder of the cycle, means operative at a seventh position for retaining the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle in their lowermost positions, means operative at an eighth position for raising the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to their uppermost positions, casting off stitches of the new courses, and for opening the latches on both needles, the back yarn feed being located in a ninth position, in cooperation with the needles, means operative at a tenth position for lowering the terry loop forming needle and the back forming needle to the first position and for closing the latches on both needles, and means operative to cause repetition of the above with the set of needles functioning as back forming needles and terry loop form ing needles reversed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,098,446 Agulnek Nov. 9, 1937 2,284,454 Smith May 26, 1942 2,376,050 Green May 15, 1945 2,379,852 Nebel July 3, 1945 2,436,318 McDonough Feb. 17, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 404,749 Great Britain I an. 25, 1934 

